Reading books most enjoyable way to experience history coming alive

By Gary Ott Midland Reporter-Telegram

Published 6:00 pm, Saturday, January 9, 2010

The elderly man was standing in the World War II section at a local bookstore. He was flipping through the pages of a book — one that featured many black-and-white historical photos — when he suddenly looked up and said, “You know, today’s young people don’t have an appreciation for history.” He shook his head sadly and added, “It’s because they don’t read like we did. Heck, I bet most of them couldn’t tell you about Pearl Harbor.” Then he shook his head again, this time more with disgust than sadness.

I nodded in agreement and then continued to mosey through the store. But his words stuck with me. It does seem that today’s youth possess a certain lack of knowledge when it comes to America’s past. And it’s not because they don’t have the necessary intelligence. Most can discuss in great detail the latest advances in computers and other forms of modern technology. And maybe in today’s world that’s what really matters.

Still, I can’t help but think they are missing something, a certain enjoyment that comes from sitting in an easy chair and reliving the past by reading the pages of a good book, maybe something about Churchill and Roosevelt having one of their many war meetings in the early to mid-1940s.

Granted, a person can get that same information on the Internet, and quite quickly, but for some reason it seems like a rather impersonal way to make the journey. Reading a book is better, especially for those of us who grew up at a time when the World Book Encyclopedia was considered the No. 1 source for in-depth information.

Now that has changed. Young people gather their much-needed data in more high-tech ways, often on a screen smaller than the palm of your hand. Again, there is nothing wrong with this — indeed, it is a sign of the times — but I can’t help but worry that an appreciation of history is being eroded along the way.

And it’s not just confined to World War II, either. In fact, it was somewhat ironic that earlier in the day a co-worker and I had been discussing college football and how for many of the top recruits it was all about which university would best showcase their talent and therefore better prepare them for a pro career.

The colorful traditions of the colleges had become meaningless, even at a place like Notre Dame, we concurred. “Let’s face it,” he said, “Probably less than 10 percent of high school seniors, and I’m talking about the best players, have any idea who Knute Rockne was.”

I could only laugh and add, “And mention Touchdown Jesus and you’ll get nothing but blank stares.”

Of course, there are hundreds of wonderful books that have been written about that school’s storied past, but the guess here is that most have gone unread by today’s budding football stars. So, of course, they know more about the present than the past.

Likewise, many articles have been written by golf historians lamenting a lack of interest most of today’s players have in that sport’s rich history. For them, it is more about getting lucrative endorsement deals than learning about those who came before them.

Almost any of the current players — especially the younger ones — can easily describe the proper way to execute a flop shot from just off the green, but good luck if you want to engage them in a serious conversation about the Ben Hogan-Byron Nelson-Sam Snead rivalry of the 1940s, considered by many to be the game’s golden era.

Is that blasé attitude due to a lack of golf books? Absolutely not. They are everywhere, both good ones and bad ones. Some have lots of wonderful photographs while others rely solely on the written word. But the point is, they are there to be had, almost begging to be taken from a shelf and read. My advice to all young people: Do it. It will be worth your time.

If you don’t believe me, spend an hour or so at any local book store, just moving from one section to the next. Do it right — that means slowly — and a whole new world will appear before your eyes.

Better yet, you might even gain an appreciation for the past. And that’s always a good thing.